Malas

A Novel

By: Marcela Fuentes

Narrated by: Christine Avila, Victoria Villarreal

A GOOD MORNING AMERICA BOOK CLUB PICK

A Bookpage Best Historical Fiction Book of 2024

“A vivacious, page-turning novel of rebellion and rebirth.”—Xochitl Gonzalez, New York Times bestselling author of Olga Dies Dreaming and Anita de Monte Laughs Last

A story full of passion and revenge, following one family living on the Texas Mexico border and a curse that reverberates across generations—"Fuentes has achieved something rare and indelible with this story of complex women.” (Erika L. Sánchez)

In 1951, a mysterious old woman confronts Pilar Aguirre in the small border town of La Cienega, Texas. The old woman is sure Pilar stole her husband and, in a heated outburst, lays a curse on Pilar and her family.

More than forty years later, Lulu Muñoz is dodging chaos at every turn: her troubled father’s moods, his rules, her secret life as singer in a punk band, but most of all her upcoming quinceañera. When her beloved grandmother passes away, Lulu finds herself drawn to the glamorous stranger who crashed the funeral and who lives alone and shunned on the edge of town.

Their unexpected kinship picks at the secrets of Lulu’s family’s past. As the quinceañera looms—and we move between these two strong, irascible female voices—one woman must make peace with the past, and one girl pushes to embrace her future.

Rich with cinematic details—from dusty rodeos to the excitement of a Selena concert and the comfort of conjunto ballads played at family gatherings—this memorable debut is a love letter to the Tejano culture and community that sustain both of these women as they discover what family means.

©2024 Marcela Fuentes (P)2024 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

“Malas is an antidote for the hard-line essentialism that has made this world an intolerant, violent place. Fuentes humanizes seemingly insoluble conflicts, both generational and cultural, with imperfect characters who are just doing their best, even when they know they are screwing up. She gives them something that many of us nonfictional people living and messing up in the world could use, and give back—grace.”—The New York Times Book Review

“Malas is a machete: sharp, terrifying, and beautiful. Each character feels dynamic, familiar, and so utterly human in their glorious messiness. Fuentes has achieved something rare and indelible with this story of complex women.”—Erika L. Sánchez, New York Times bestseller author of I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter and Crying in the Bathroom

Set in a border town on the Texas side of the Rio Grande, Fuentes’s lively novel explores the intergenerational connection between two strong women. Lulu Muñoz is trying to keep her punk rock band a secret from her substance-abusing father while avoiding thoughts of her garish upcoming quinceañera celebration. When the enigmatic Pilar makes a surprise appearance at a funeral, she and Lulu form a friendship that leads to unexpected discoveries.—Washington Post

Unique and interesting

It was a little bit slow at the beginning but it became very interesting. The intertwining of the characters and their relationship was very interesting! Well written with many relatable scenes and pop culture references.

Vivid characters, stunning prose

Finally, female characters rendered in all their complexity! The women in Malas jump off the page and the sentences quite literally sing. Crank up your fav 90s tunes and dive into this beautiful debut!

Loveee!

This book was a blind buy, a split decision to read something on a 2.5 hour drive. And I was NOT disappointed! What a beautiful story with a beautiful ending!

The Spanglish. Live it.

Great story. All Hispanic/Mexicans can relate in some way or another. I wish I knew what happened to Pili.

Great story!

Being a border town girl, there was so much I could relate to. It was an excellent story!

¡No mames!

I've all but given up on debut writers and a lot of the new stuff being published these days. Pero, this book! I'm so glad I didn't skip this one. Malas is beautifully written, a story that wraps you in its clutches from beginning to end. If you enjoy good storytelling, you'll enjoy Malas. The story is the most important thing, yes, there are themes to unpack and great fodder for discussions on family, how far we've come as a country of immigrants, the struggles of being an immigrant, generational trauma, family, music, friendships, but the story remains the most important part of the novel throughout, not any one type of message. Great book for any adult reader.

A Coming of Age Mexican-American Experience

The novel is beautifully crafted and resonates deeply with the Mexican-American experience, capturing the essence of cultural heritage through the lens of its protagonist, Lulu. As a first-generation Mexican American, I found a profound connection with Lulu’s journey and saw reflections of my own family in her story, particularly in the portrayal of her father.

Fuentes skillfully weaves in references to a shared Mexican-American upbringing, enriched with music, traditions, and the vibrant nuances of our culture. This creates an authentic immersive experience, allowing readers with a similar upbringing to relive cherished memories and recognize the universal themes of identity, family, and belonging.

***SPOILER ALERT***
One of the most intriguing aspects of the novel is the element of mysticism surrounding Jose Alfredo's 'first wife.' Her enigmatic presence adds a layer of suspense and intrigue, suggesting that supernatural forces may be at play. However, this subplot ultimately leads to a significant plot hole. The resolution that dismisses her as "just a crazy old lady" feels so unsatisfying and abrupt. I was invested in the idea that Pilar's suffering (and subsequently Julio's) was influenced by this mysterious figure, only to be let down by an anticlimactic conclusion. While throughout the book, Lulu dismisses superstition and bad luck, this resolution diminishes the impact of Pilar's hardships and leaves a sense of incompleteness.

Despite this, Malas remains a compelling and poignant read. Fuentes’ ability to portray the struggles and joys of the Mexican-American experience is both touching and authentic. The book is a testament to the resilience and spirit of our community, even if some narrative threads are left hanging.

It was over to soon

This was a great story. It took a while for the two storylines to come together, but when they did, I never wanted the story to end. This was a great selection.

A lost Latina

This book took me back to my youth. Growing up as a Latina in TX. The stories I would here from Mexico. The music from there and here like Selena and more. It’s the book I’ve been waiting to read my whole life!

Beautiful, bittersweet story, amazing characters!

Loved this book! The setting, the characters, the history, beautiful, bittersweet, love, loss, lies, pain and friendship. Tejano culture comes alive through Lulu’s voice - her own coming of age story - finding her own way with pain and love. Great narration bought this story to life. Highly recommended!